Puerto de Alfacar

The Puerto de Alfacar is located north of Granada and was the summit finish of stage 4 of the 2018 Vuelta Espana. It is described locally as an strange climb due to its profile. At only 5.4% average gradient for 12km it doesn't sound particualrly hard, but the climb is split into 3 distinct stages.

It starts off with a series of testing hairpins, this is then followed by some leg-burning ramps through the town of Alfacar and then the final section is much less steep and it flatterns considerably near the summit.

The area is known for two reasons. One good and one bad. It's known for its bread and for being the site of many war atrocities under General Franco's death sqauds.

The Climb in Detail

“The first GC challenge of the 2018 Vuelta Espana.”

The Ascents

The climb is split into three sections and for the pros is a hard fast climb:

Section 1 - A series of steep (9%) hairpins zigzagging across a rocky desert landscape.A couple of flats and tiny bits of descent give you a rest bite before section 2.

Section 2 - Through the old town of Alfacar the ramps reach 12%, but with regular flat rest bites.

Section 3 - As you get closer to the summit there are more hairpins and the gradient drops, the slopes become forested (and therefore importantly cooler) and the climb becomes easier.

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